Publications
Transmodern heritage as a space for imagining pluriversal relations : insights from the African 'periphery'
A groundbreaking study challenges the conventional binary narrative of colonial urban development, proposing that African encounters with modernity should be understood through the decolonial pluriversal perspective and the concept of transmodernity. Focusing on N'zima village in Grand-Bassam (Côte d'Ivoire) and Abbashawel area in Asmara (Eritrea), both inscribed as part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the research reveals these areas as spaces that contest Western onto-epistemologies. By rejecting the center-periphery dynamic inherent in colonial narratives, the study highlights how these African urban entities enable a pluralistic politics, offering a nuanced visualization of reality beyond the binaries created by Western modernity.
Mobilizing the Racialized Built Environment in Asmara
The preservation of Asmara, an Italian colonial city in Eritrea, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site reflects a complex intersection of interests that prioritize architectural heritage over democratic and humanitarian concerns. This study reveals how narratives surrounding the 'white city' of Asmara—rooted in Italian modernist architecture—have been mobilized to bolster national identity under the authoritarian Afwerki regime while overlooking severe power asymmetries and current conditions. The research identifies three narrative strategies used by preservationists, which converge with those of international bodies (ICOMOS, World Heritage Committee), European Union states, and the local regime, each with distinct agendas: expanding modernist historiography, increasing African sites on the UNESCO List, gaining political leverage, and consolidating spatial control. The analysis critiques this convergence, highlighting a disconnect where architectural preservation is celebrated without addressing systemic issues, thereby reinforcing institutional positions while ignoring humanitarian realities.
Asmara’s cultural integration: bridging the past and the future
Asmara, a UNESCO-listed modernist city in Eritrea, exemplifies how colonial urban heritage can be reappropriated to foster social, economic, and cultural development. The study highlights the successful integration of Italian modernist architecture with local vernacular techniques, such as the 'monkey head' masonry method, which combines rough stonework with wooden beams—a practice rooted in Eritrean tradition. This fusion not only preserves architectural identity but also enriches it with inclusive values, offering a model for heritage conservation. The research emphasizes the need for intergenerational dialogue and community engagement to sustain this process, particularly through participatory workshops that bridge traditional and modern constructive cultures. By doing so, Asmara demonstrates how intangible cultural heritage can be leveraged for sustainable urban regeneration.
Transmodern heritage as a space for imagining pluriversal relations—Insights from the African “periphery”
This study challenges the conventional binary narrative of colonial urban development by proposing transmodernity as a framework to understand the coexistence and interaction between European-planned cities (Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire) and African communities (N'zima village, Abbashawel in Asmara). It argues that these areas, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, represent not opposing sides but interconnected, pluralistic urban entities that resist Western modernity's center-periphery dynamics. The research employs a decolonial pluriversal perspective to reinterpret heritage, emphasizing the agency and ontological diversity of colonized African populations. By focusing on Abbashawel and N'zima, it highlights their role in visualizing alternative realities that contest binary classifications, offering a new lens for pluralistic politics.
Where Would I Walk to Decolonize Myself?
Asmara, Eritrea's capital, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, recognizing its unique colonial architecture but also highlighting the painful history of violence and racism. Recent documentaries and contemporary artworks by the Eritrean diaspora challenge Italy's unproblematized (post)colonial discourse, offering tools for decolonization. This study traces a 'filmic path' that serves as a collective memory preservation tool, countering amnesia and providing a framework to rethink Italian 'difficult heritage.' The research approach involves analyzing contemporary media productions, aiming to bridge the gap between colonial narratives and diasporic experiences while offering insights for heritage studies.
Un patrimonio celato fra le architetture moderne di Asmara: avanguardie e sperimentazioni costruttive italiane in terra d’Oltremare
Asmara, the first African city inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 2017, stands out for its preservation of Italian Rationalist architecture, a key example of Modernism with local stylistic adaptations. Despite decades of political instability and challenging maintenance conditions, these structures retain their originality, showcasing technological and constructive innovations that reflect the experimental spirit of their time. The study employs a 'deconstruction' approach to classify this heritage, aiming to safeguard both its material and immaterial values. This method allows for a comprehensive analysis of the architectural patents and construction solutions, which have been under-researched but are crucial to understanding Asmara's unique urban landscape.
An Inclusive Expression of Genius Loci: A Case Study of the Urban Evolution of Asmara, Eritrea
Asmara, Eritrea, exemplifies the inclusive expression of 'genius loci'—a unique blend of place, time, and cultural-spatial characteristics that underpins its UNESCO World Heritage status. This study reveals how Asmara's urban evolution, shaped by modernist planning and Italian colonial influence, preserves an enduring sense of identity rooted in both tangible and intangible heritage. Using a decolonial conceptual framework, the research maps the city's development through timeline analysis, drawings, and photographs, drawing on the author's autoethnographic insights as someone who grew up there. The findings propose an inclusive model for transforming postcolonial cities while safeguarding their cultural-spatial essence.
Asmara's architectural heritage as a bricolage: The case of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral
Asmara's modernist architecture, recognized by UNESCO for its 'outstanding value to humanity,' represents a unique blend of Eritrean and Italian influences. The study challenges UNESCO's rejection of Criterion 3 for Asmara, arguing that indigenous labor and cultural traditions played a pivotal role in shaping the city's modernist identity. Focusing on St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, the research demonstrates how bricolage—layering diverse architectural elements—created a distinct modernist language, distinct from European modernism but deeply rooted in African contexts. This finding underscores Asmara's significance as Africa's sole explicitly modernist UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering new insights into the cultural and historical intersections that define its heritage.
Prologue: Locating the Modern
This issue of Curator challenges the Eurocentric master narrative of modernism, advocating for a more inclusive and diverse understanding of modernity that acknowledges global contributions. It highlights the colonial matrix of power that has historically marginalized non-Western perspectives in heritage studies. Through case studies from across Africa, the research deconstructs the linear progression of Western modernity, proposing alternative epistemologies such as 'transmodernity' and 'border thinking.' The study also explores how African modernist architecture often drew on precolonial aesthetics, creating unique forms that question colonial power structures. Additionally, it addresses the precarity of modern heritage in Africa, emphasizing the need for sustainable preservation and community engagement to ensure equitable futures.
Asmara: Africa’s Modernist City (UNESCO World Heritage Nomination)
Asmara, Eritrea's modernist capital, stands as a groundbreaking example of colonial urban planning and architecture that challenges Eurocentric narratives. The city's nomination for UNESCO World Heritage List (WHL) in 2016, supported by nearly two decades of interdisciplinary research, highlights its unique blend of innovative functional zoning, modernist design, and local cultural integration. Unlike many post-colonial settings, Asmara's conservation approach emphasizes preserving early colonial-era architecture, offering a critical lens to reassess global heritage perceptions. The research aims to secure the city's WHL inscription while addressing the underrepresentation of African and modernist sites on the list, fostering stability and prosperity.
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